Sustainable Forestry (Africa)

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to promote sustainable forestry in Africa.

Gareth Thomas: Poor governance and weak law enforcement hinder the achievement of sustainable forestry in Africa. Earlier this year we committed£11 million over the next four years to the Forest Governance Support Programme in Cameroon. In addition we committed £12 million over the next five years in support of Partnership Agreements with African countries under the European Union's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan.

Kashmir/Pakistan Earthquake

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of Statefor International Development what support his Department is making available for people affected by the earthquake in Kashmir and Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Following the Earthquake the UK pledged £129 million for relief and reconstruction in Pakistan, including Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
	£54 million has been committed to relief activities, including direct support to the relief effort led by the Government of Pakistan and funds channelled through UN agencies and non-government agencies. We flew out 86 search and rescue experts and funded over 70 relief flights, three Chinook helicopters and a Royal Engineers squadron.
	We have already provided £5 million for health, education and infrastructure reconstruction, and a further £65 million is committed.

Nigeria

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial support his Department is making available to Nigeria in 2006-07 to assist poverty reduction and increase educational opportunities.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development (DFID) has allocated £80 million in bilateral expenditure to assist poverty reduction in Nigeria in 2006-07. Of this, £8 million will go to programmes which directly support the education sector, but many other DFID activities in Nigeria, including work at state level to improve the management of public expenditure, have an impacton education outcomes.

Western Balkans

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the Department's programmes in the Western Balkans following the Government's recognition of Montenegro as a sovereign state.

Gareth Thomas: Our approach to supporting countries in the Balkans places a high priority on enhancingthe effectiveness of the international community's assistance to the region. This will continue. The estimated UK share of multilateral assistance to Serbia and Montenegro in 2003 (the most recent official statistics available) was £37 million. Our programme to Montenegro ended in March 2005 and we currently have no plans to reconsider this decision.

2006 G8 Summit

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with his G8 counterparts on the agenda for the 2006 G8 Summit.

Hilary Benn: The agenda for the 2006 G8 Summit in St. Petersburg is decided by the Russian Presidencyin consultation with other G8 heads. The Russian priorities are energy security, infectious diseases and education. A priority for DFID is to make sure that the G8 leaders continue to focus on delivering the commitments they made at Gleneagles last year on support to Africa and climate change. President Putin has asked the Prime Minister to lead a discussion on progress against the Gleneagles commitments to reduce poverty and support sustainable development in Africa.

Doha Round

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the implications for the developing world of the Doha Round of trade negotiations.

Gareth Thomas: The UK is working hard to ensure a successful round that delivers real improvements and opportunities for developing countries. We recognise that reducing trade tariffs alone will tend to favouronly the more advanced developing countries in the immediate term. We have therefore been promotinga "development package", containing short term changes to trade rules, medium term adjustment measures, and support for longer term supply side capacity building.

EU Aid Programme

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of aid delivered through the EU's aid programme; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The European Commission has improved the effectiveness of its aid substantially since 2000, when a major reform programme commenced. Today, delivery is faster and is implemented by a dedicated delivery agency (EuropeAid). Field offices are stronger, with better skilled staff. Projects are delivering more effective results, as shown byregular on-site assessments by independent experts. Nevertheless, there is still a case for further reform to improve aid effectiveness.

Vietnam

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of Statefor International Development what support his Department is giving to Vietnam in 2006-07.

Gareth Thomas: In 2006-07 DFID will provide£50 million of grant aid to the Government of Vietnam to improve education, tackle HIV and support programmes targeting the poorest regions. DFID also provides support to other Government of Vietnam priorities including:
	improving public finance management and anti-corruption, infrastructure and Vietnam's commitments for WTO accession.

Clean Water

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions his Department has had with the World Health Organisation on access to clean water and sanitation in  (a) Tunisia,  (b) Cameroon and  (c) Tanzania.

Hilary Benn: I have not had recent discussions with WHO on water and sanitation in Tunisia or Cameroon. DFID does not have a bilateral aid programme in Tunisia, though we make a significant contributionto development in Tunisia through the European Commission's programmes. In Cameroon, DFID's focus is on forestry and governance and we do not have a bilateral water and sanitation programme.
	In Tanzania, DFID works with the Government and a number of development partners in the water sector, including WHO, to help strengthen policies and review their implementation. DFID has a particular focus on increasing the amount of money reaching local government to fund basic rural water supply and sanitation.
	DFID is committed to expanding access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in poor countries across the world. On World Water Day 2005, I committed to double UK spending on water supply and sanitation in Africa, bringing our spend to£95 million a year by 2008.

Sir Alistair Graham

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to her answer of 15 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 1378-9W, on Sir Alistair Graham, how much was claimed by Sir Alistair from each of the bodies for which he was entitled to as (a) per diem and  (b) per appeal remuneration.

Hilary Armstrong: pursuant to the reply, 15 June 2006, Official Report, c. 1379W
	I regret that the date on which Sir Alistair, as chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, began receiving £380 per day was incorrect. The date given was 26 April 2005.
	The correct date is 26 April 2004.
	In respect of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, a public body sponsored by the Cabinet Office,Sir Alistair was a member between 1 October 2003 and 25 April 2004, and was appointed chairman with effect from 26 April 2004. As a member, Sir Alistair's time commitment was on average two days per monthfor which he received £180 per day. As chairman,Sir Alistair's time commitment has on average been two days per week. From 26 April 2004 to 5 May 2005 he received £380 per day and from 6 May 2005 to date he has received £440 per day. The information requested in respect of the other public appointments held by Sir Alistair is not held by my Department.

Biometrics

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what  (a) planned and  (b) existing projects in his Department involve the use of biometric technology.

Gillian Merron: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is examining the possible use of biometrics to help ensure greater security of the driving licence. This could include whether use can be madeof the growing number of photographs held on its database to assist with the 10-yearly renewal cycle commencing in 2008. Investigations are in their early stages. The Agency is also piloting biometrics for security and access control purposes at its base in Swansea using fingerprint readers.
	In addition, the Transport Security Directorate is currently working with the aviation industry to develop standards for the use of biometric systems in airport access control.

Cycling

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what support his Department is giving to  (a) Oxfordshire and  (b) other local authorities to help encourage children to cycle to school.

Gillian Merron: The Department has provided £270,000 to date to help fund five cycle routes in Oxfordshire which link six schools to the National Cycle Network. £12 million in central Government funds have been invested in this scheme, generating significant match funding from local authorities resulting in overall investment of over £30 million. Over 330 cycle routes to schools have been built or are under construction.
	In addition a joint Department for Transport and Department for Education and Science capital grants scheme has allocated just over £750,000 to 128 schools in Oxfordshire with travel plans, for infrastructure such as secure cycle parking.
	Nationally around £57 million of grant has been awarded to over 10,000 schools in England, through this scheme.
	The Secretary of State for Transport announced recently a doubling of Cycling England's annual budget from £5 million to £10 million per annum over the next three years. The extra money will be targeted at providing even more links for schools to the National Cycle Network and to provide more cycle training in schools.

Local Transport Authorities

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce which local transport authorities will become centres of excellence; and how much each will receive as a consequence.

Gillian Merron: Authorities in 17 local transport plan areas were awarded Centres of Excellence status for local transport delivery in February 2005. A total of £100,000 per year is available to them to support them in providing peer-led activities. The distribution of this funding between the authorities is related to exactly what particular authorities do as Centres of Excellence.
	Centres of Excellence status will be reviewed in 2007.
	There are more details about the Centres of Excellence, including a list of the designated authorities, in a Department for Transport release dated 25 February 2005, available on the Government News Network website (www.gnn.gov.uk).

Local Transport Authorities

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the success of the local transport authorities Centres of Excellence programme was measured.

Gillian Merron: The Centres of Excellence programme is a part of the Local Transport Plan policy. Work is under way to evaluate the success of the policy as a whole.
	An interim report is published on the Department for Transport website (www.dft.gov.uk)—under research, within the local transport plan subsection of the regional and local transport section of the site.

Private Finance Initiative Projects

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what total amount private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible which went over budget did so in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: A key aspect of the private finance initiative (PFI) is risk transfer on projects going over budget. This means overruns on PFI projects that the Department is responsible for will normally be carried by the private sector provider and not the Department for Transport.
	Unitary charge payments do not commence untilthe service is operational. If a private sector budget overrun influences the service standard provided, PFI contract terms include a right for the public sector to make performance deductions from the unitary charge payment made to the private sector provider.

Railways

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what improvements to train services are proposed as part of  (a) the West Midlands franchise from 2007 and  (b) the 2008 timetable following increased capacity at Milton Keynes in terms of re-instatement of direct Milton Keynes to Birmingham services in addition to inter-city services.

Derek Twigg: From November 2007, when the West Midlands franchise commences, there will be no changes to the existing overall pattern of services between Milton Keynes and Birmingham. There will be an hourly direct inter-city service but no regular direct "local" West Midlands franchise service via Northampton.
	Network Rail is currently undertaking the detailed development of the December 2008 timetable. From this date, as set out in the West Coast Main Line Strategy, there will continue to be an hourly direct inter-city service between Milton Keynes and Birmingham. It is also possible that certain local London-Northampton and Northampton-Birmingham services to be operated by the West Midlands franchise may be linked at Northampton thus providing additional direct services between Milton Keynes and Birmingham. However, this can not be confirmed until Network Rail's timetable development work is completed later in 2006.

Railways

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress towards a new high speed railway link between England and Scotland.

Derek Twigg: The Government made a manifesto commitment to look at the feasibility and affordability of a new north-south high-speed link. The Government have committed to take this forward in the development of a long term strategy for the railways, drawing onSir Rod Eddington's advice on the long-term impact of transport decisions on the UK's productivity, stability and growth. This work will report when the rail strategy is published in summer 2007.

Road Traffic Accidents

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) road traffic accidents, (b) road traffic fatalities,  (c) accidents involving motorcyclists,  (d) fatalities involving motorcyclists, (e) accidents involving bicyclists and  (f) fatalities involving bicyclists there were in (i) Hampshire,(ii) Southampton, (iii) Portsmouth and (iv) Eastleigh in each year since 1990.

Stephen Ladyman: The total number of personal injury road accidents, the number of personal injury accidents involving a two wheeled motor vehicles (TWMV), and the number of personal injury accidents involving cyclists reported to the police, as well as theresulting fatalities for (i) county of Hampshire, (ii) Southampton, (iii) Portsmouth and (iv) Eastleigh from 1990 to 2005 are given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table (i): accidents and fatalities in the county of Hampshire: 1990-2004 
			 Accidents involving TWMV  Accidents involving pedal cyclists 
			   Total number accidents (a)  Fatalities (b)  Total number accidents (c)  Total fatalities( 1)  (d)  Total number accidents (e)  Total fatalities( 2)  (f) 
			 1990 7,481 176 1,407 17 1,071 9 
			 1991 6,715 104 1,125 24 1,011 9 
			 1992 6,643 101 994 17 977 10 
			 1993 6,692 109 949 25 997 4 
			 1994 6,761 80 860 17 1,053 10 
			 1995 6,834 77 855 11 1,053 4 
			 1996 7,176 91 857 18 1,046 6 
			 1997 7,104 74 870 15 990 5 
			 1998 6,856 76 856 22 937 8 
			 1999 6,776 95 923 18 972 7 
			 2000 6,850 84 932 21 858 2 
			 2001 6,430 68 948 16 724 3 
			 2002 6,377 91 1,031 21 663 8 
			 2003 6,095 100 1,012 33 721 3 
			 2004 5,624 60 838 10 682 6 
			 2005 5,326 84 811 19 635 7 
		
	
	
		
			  Table (ii): accidents and fatalities in Southampton unitary authority: 1990-2004 
			 Accidents Involving TWMV  Accidents involving pedal cyclists 
			   Total number accidents (a)  Fatalities (b)  Total number accidents (c)  Total fatalities( 1)  (d)  Total number accidents (e)  Total fatalities( 2)  (f) 
			 1990 979 18 172 4 160 0 
			 1991 885 14 155 5 126 3 
			 1992 881 10 143 2 139 2 
			 1993 897 16 141 3 136 2 
			 1994 901 4 113 3 173 1 
			 1995 953 2 116 0 179 0 
			 1996 968 8 137 2 145 0 
			 1997 916 6 113 0 151 2 
			 1998 930 5 104 2 162 1 
			 1999 877 12 115 2 141 2 
			 2000 870 7 117 4 117 1 
			 2001 886 4 145 1 131 1 
			 2002 828 9 150 5 102 0 
			 2003 838 6 133 3 126 1 
			 2004 826 2 166 0 102 0 
			 2005 731 4 131 1 92 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Table (iii): accidents and fatalities in Portsmouth unitary authority: 1990-2004 
			 Accidents involving TWMV  Accidents involving pedal cyclists 
			   Total number accidents (a)  Fatalities (b)  Total number accidents (c)  Total Fatalities( 1)  (d)  Total number accidents (e)  Total Fatalities( 2)  (d) 
			 1990 967 10 214 0 208 1 
			 1991 923 11 167 1 244 0 
			 1992 882 5 128 0 224 2 
			 1993 984 8 140 2 234 1 
			 1994 909 6 124 0 206 2 
			 1995 950 5 114 1 236 0 
			 1996 980 4 95 0 207 2 
			 1997 886 4 103 1 183 1 
			 1998 906 4 102 0 161 0 
			 1999 913 5 113 2 215 1 
			 2000 980 6 125 1 185 1 
			 2001 811 6 101 1 143 0 
			 2002 911 4 125 0 147 1 
			 2003 805 1 117 0 146 0 
			 2004 784 5 106 1 150 1 
			 2005 729 12 100 3 119 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Table (iv): accidents and fatalities in Eastleigh local authority: 1990-2004 
			 Accidents involving TWMV  Accidents involving pedal cyclists 
			   Total number accidents (a)  Fatalities (b)  Total number accidents (c)  Total fatalities( 1)  (d)  Total number accidents (e)  Total fatalities( 2)  (f) 
			 1990 472 6 94 0 56 1 
			 1991 418 6 70 2 47 1 
			 1992 380 0 70 0 42 0 
			 1993 423 4 78 4 46 0 
			 1994 416 9 58 0 66 2 
			 1995 396 5 58 2 44 1 
			 1996 465 3 61 0 61 0 
			 1997 415 3 56 2 41 0 
			 1998 425 5 65 1 60 1 
			 1999 447 6 72 2 54 0 
			 2000 475 4 75 1 55 0 
			 2001 439 4 80 0 47 0 
			 2002 392 3 81 0 44 1 
			 2003 413 3 81 1 44 0 
			 2004 402 0 65 0 32 0 
			 2005 373 2 64 1 41 0 
			 (1) Includes all fatalities resulting from accidents involving a TWMV, which may include non TWMV road user fatalities. (2) Includes all fatalities resulting from accidents involving a pedal cycle, which may include non-cyclist road user fatalities.

Transport Projects (South West)

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money was made available for transport-related projects in the South West in 2005-06.

Gillian Merron: Figures for the total identifiable planned public expenditure (current and capital) for the South West region on transport in 2005-06 are contained in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2006, published on the Treasury website (hm-treasury.gov.uk) and available in the House Library.
	The document identifies a planned total of£541 million of capital public expenditure on transport for the South West region in 2005-06. It identifiesa planned total of £515 million of current public expenditure on transport for the South West regionin 2005-06.

Bacteria-related Deaths

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths were recorded where  (a) clostridium difficile associated disease,  (b) MRSA, (c) vancomycin resistant enterocci,  (d) multi-resistant acinetobacter spp and  (e) penicillin resistant streptococcus pneumoniae was mentioned on the death certificate in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by deaths recorded in (i) rural and (ii) non-rural areas; and in how many cases it was also the underlying cause of death.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl dated 12 July 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths have been recorded where (a) clostridium difficile associated disease, (b) MRSA,(c) vancomycin resistant enterococci, (d) multi-resistant streptococcus pneumoniae was mentioned on the death certificate in the last year for which figures are available; broken down by deaths recorded in (i) rural and (ii) non rural areas; and in how many cases it was also the underlying cause. I am replying in her absence. (84262)
	A breakdown of the figures requested by rural and non-rural area is not available. However, an answer to an almost identical question in respect of the whole of England and Wales fromMr. Paul Burstow MP, was published in the Official Report,No. 176, page 828W.

Carbon Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made ofthe carbon emissions of his Department; what commitment he has made to reducing such emissions; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The carbon footprint of the Treasury building at 1 Horse Guards road has been estimated by the Carbon Trust. Subsequent investment has been made in building management systems designed to deliver significant annual savings in carbon dioxide in line with their recommendations.

Counterfeit Tobacco

Colin Breed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of under-age smokers purchasing smuggled and counterfeit tobacco products.

John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs current estimate of the share of illicit tobacco is published in "measuring Indirect Tax Losses" which is availableon their website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2005/mitl2005.pdf
	However HM Revenue and Customs have made no estimate of the number or proportion of smokers who are under age and purchase smuggled and counterfeit tobacco.

Drug and Alcohol-related Deaths

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) males and  (b) females aged 16 to 24 years died as a result of accidental (i) drug and(ii) alcohol misuse, excluding suicide in each yearsince 1990.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl dated 12 July 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) males and (b) females aged 16 to 24 years died as a result of accidental (i) drug and (ii) alcohol misuse, excluding suicide in each year since 1990. I am replying in her absence. (84664).
	Available figures relate to the number of deaths from accidental drug-related and alcohol-related poisoning. The most recent year for which figures are available is 2004. The table shows the number of deaths in males and females aged 16-24 years for which the underlying cause was accidental poisoning from drugs or alcohol, for the years 1990 to 2004.
	
		
			  Deaths from accidental poisoning by drugs( 1 ) or alcohol( 2)  by sex aged 16 to 24, England and Wales, 1990 to 2004( 3,4) 
			   Accidental drug-related poisoning  Accidental poisoning by exposure to alcohol 
			   Males  Females  Males  Females 
			 1990 45 16 6 1 
			 1991 58 26 3 2 
			 1992 74 18 2 0 
			 1993 107 27 7 3 
			 1994 125 34 1 0 
			 1995 134 32 6 0 
			 1996 130 31 3 1 
			 1997 152 27 8 0 
			 1998 108 38 7 0 
			 1999 95 24 4 0 
			 2000 91 32 7 0 
			 2001 103 27 10 1 
			 2002 80 24 2 1 
			 2003 55 25 7 2 
			 2004 67 26 3 0 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E850-E858 for the years 1990 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X40-X44 from 2001 onwards. (2) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E860for the years 1990 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X454 from 2001 onwards. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year from 1990 to 1992 and for deaths occurring in each calendar year from 1993 onwards. (4) Where both drug and alcohol poisoning are mentioned on the death certificate, international coding rules state that the death should be coded to the drug.

Electricity Transmission

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of the climate change levy on levels of carbon dioxide emissions attributable to electricity transmission and distribution losses; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: No direct assessment has been made of the effect of CCL on electricity transmission and distribution losses. However, the review of CCL by Cambridge Econometrics (published at Budget 2005) concluded that the levy is effective and should saveover 3.5 million tonnes of carbon per annum by 2010, which includes savings from electricity generation and distribution (although the latter is not identified separately).

Life Expectancy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average life expectancy is for  (a) men,  (b) women and  (c) all people in each primary care trust area.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 12 July 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average life expectancy is for(a) men, (b) women and (c) all people in each primary care trust area. I am replying in her absence. (84021)
	The most recently available figures for primary care trust on life expectancy at birth are for 2001-2003 and are provided in the attached table, copies of which are being placed in the House of Commons Library.

Light Bulbs

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many light bulbs there are in his Department; and how many are energy efficient.

John Healey: The lighting system in the Treasury building at 1 Horse Guards Road uses low energy fluorescent tubes. There are some 200 light bulbs used in the heritage lighting fittings, all of which are energy efficient.

Mesothelioma

Nick Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the House of Lords judgement in the case of Barker  v. Corus UK Ltd. on future plans for public expenditure in respect of compensation payments for those suffering from mesothelioma.

Stephen Timms: Mesothelioma cancer is a terrible disease that afflicts many families in this country. The disease can manifest many years after exposure, and once diagnosed the individual's condition can rapidly deteriorate. In acknowledging the acute distress that this disease places upon families the Government recognises the need for compensation to be paid in a timely manner.
	In light of this the Government have been examining the implications for all those affected by the recentLaw Lords ruling. The Prime Minister announced on21 June that we have decided to amend the Compensation Bill. Officials in DCA are working at this moment to develop the right clause for the Bill.

National Minimum Wage

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged  (a) over 22,  (b) 18 to 21 and  (c) under 18 years received the national minimum wage in (i) Thameside metropolitan borough, (ii) Stockport metropolitan borough and(iii) Denton and Reddish constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 12 July 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to ask how many people aged(a) 22 years and over, (b) 18 to 21 years and (c) under 18 years are receiving the minimum wage in (i) Tameside metropolitan borough, (ii) Stockport metropolitan borough and (iii) Denton and Reddish constituency in the most recent period available. I am replying in her absence. (84082)
	Estimates for the number of jobs paid at the minimum wage for Parliamentary Constituencies and Local Authorities are not available. However the Office for National Statistics calculates estimates of the number of jobs paid less than national minimum wage rates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions. A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles and data can be found on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5837&Pos=1&ColRank=1&Rank=272

Official Residences

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the official residences for which his Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the occupants of each make towards running costs; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure was on those properties in 2004-05; how much was spent in each property on  (a) flowers and plants,  (b) wine and entertaining,  (c) food,  (d) telephone bills and  (e) electricity and gas in 2004-05; how many (i) domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment was in 2004-05.

Edward Balls: The Treasury is responsible for the upkeep of No.11 Downing street and for the flat at No. 10 Downing street. No notable capital and refurbishment expenses were incurred in 2004-05. Electricity is estimated at £3,153, gas at £532 and water at £410.
	The share of overall security costs is £26,204 and of maintenance is £14,773.
	The Treasury's expenditure on official entertainment for 2004-05, the year in which Britain held the G8 Presidency, was given to the hon. Member by my colleague, the Under-Secretary of State for Health,the hon. Member for Bury, South (Mr. Lewis) on14 February 2006,  Official Report, column 1834. Further analysis by food, alcohol, staff and accommodation could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".
	Telephone calls are included as part of the overall Downing street exchange.
	Cleaning staff are part of the whole Downing street complex. There is one member of staff allocated to managing No.11 Downing street.

Oil Prices

John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what oil price his Department predicts for each of the next 10 years.

John Healey: The Treasury does not make detailed predictions of future prices. In projecting the public finances, the Treasury adopts an oil price assumption based on the average of independent forecasts, which is set out in PBR and Budget documents. This assumption was audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General in December 2005, when he concluded that:
	"There is no clearly better method available for use in the future, though large uncertainties in predicted oil prices remain"
	(http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/F5D/46/pbr05_nao_508.pdf).

Research and Development Tax Credits

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have been investigated for fraud in the claiming of  (a) research and development tax credits and  (b) vaccines research relief since their inception; how many were found to be claiming fraudulently in each case; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Information regarding the underlying reasons for individual investigations and penaltiesis held locally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Published in December 2005, "Supporting growth in innovation: next steps for theR and D credit" announced that HMRC will set up specialist R and D units, which will develop expertise to ensure a more consistent handling of claims, together with an effective focus on non-compliance.

Stamp Duty

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were calculated as being liable for payment of stamp duty in 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: There were estimated to be 930,000 UK residential transactions in 2005-06 where the price was above the normal stamp duty threshold of £120,000. The number of transactions where stamp duty was payable will be lower due to the use of relief's, e.g. disadvantaged area relief.

Animal Care Apprenticeships

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Minister for Animal Welfare will reply to the letters of 12 April 2006 and 1 June 2006 from the hon.Member for West Worcestershire on animal care apprenticeships.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 July 2006
	I apologise for the long delay. A reply was sent on28 June 2006.

Asda

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date meetings have taken place between the Department and representatives of Asda, including Asda's parent company Wal-Mart, in the last 12 months; and if she will list the participants.

Barry Gardiner: Pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member on 24 April,  Official Report, Column 813w, the answer stated that a meeting was held on11 November 2005. Due to an administrative error this was incorrect. The date should have read 8 November 2005. The rest of the answer remains correct and is detailed in full in the following paragraph.
	Because of the very wide range of goods and outlets involved, the retail sector is affected by more regulations than any other sector. Consequently major retailers will have regular contact with many departments and may also be involved in working and consultative groups. To list every meeting would involve disproportionate cost, so the following information relates to key meetings only. In the last12 months meetings, Defra officials and Asda/Wal-Mart took place on 22 July 2005; 11 November 2005; 11 February 2006; and 3 March 2006. In addition,a meeting with DEFRA Ministers took place on8 December 2005. Data privacy legislation makes it inappropriate to list participants in those meetings.

Brixham Fish Market

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what decision was taken by his Department within the panel meeting on 25 May 2006 in relation to Torbay council's application for public funds for Brixham Fish Market; and what estimate he has made of the percentage of the total cost of the project the proposed funding from his Department would constitute.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 July 2006
	Torbay council's application for public funds for Brixham Fish Market was approved in principle, at the panel meeting on the 25 May 2006, and has subsequently been finalised as noted in my answer to the hon. Gentlemen's previous question to me on this matter.
	The Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) funding granted for the project constitutes29 per cent. of the overall cost of the project, based on current estimates from Torbay council.

Carbon Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the carbon emissions of his Department; what commitment he has made to reducing such emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Government departments submit data on their carbon emissions for annual Sustainable Development in Government Reports. The last report published by the Sustainable Development Commission in December 2005, covering the reporting period April 2004 to March 2005, is available at: http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/watchdog
	DEFRA reported a 3 per cent. increase in absolute carbon emissions since 1999-2000, against a target ofa 12,5 per cent. reduction by 2010-11 for central government departments. It should be noted thatdue to machinery of government changes, the area occupied by the Department and its Executive Agencies increased by almost 9 per cent. during this period.
	On 12 June 2006, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced new Sustainable operations targets for the Government Estate, replacing those in place since 2004. They focus on key areas such as carbon neutrality and emissions, energy efficiency, waste and water consumption.
	They require all central Government Departments to: reverse the current upward trend in carbon emissions by April 2007, reduce carbon emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11, (relative to 1999-2000 levels), reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent. by 2020, have a carbon neutral office estate by 2012, and reduce carbon emissions from road vehicles used for Government administrative operations by 15 per cent. by 2010-11, (relative to 2005-06 levels).

Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 there have been for  (a) crime and disorder,  (b) fixed penalty notices,  (c) nuisance and abandoned vehicles,  (d) litter,  (e) graffiti and fly-posting,  (f) waste,  (g) dogs and  (h) noise in(i) each local authority and (ii) each police authority, broken down by basic command unit in each region of England and Wales since the introduction of the powers.

Ben Bradshaw: Prosecutions cannot be brought under Part 1 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (CNEA) (Crime and Disorder).
	The number of prosecutions for littering offences in relation to antisocial behaviour, and the number of penalty notices for disorder issued for littering offences, are shown in the following tables.
	The measures involving prosecutions under the CNEA or the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) (as amended by the CNEA) on fixed penalty notices, graffiti and fly posting, waste, dogs, and noise were not commenced until 6 April 2006. Therefore, comprehensive figures for prosecutions under these sections will not be available until 2007. Similarly, figures relating to prosecutions pursued for nuisance parking offences under Sections 3 and 4 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act are not available until the autumn.
	From 6 June 2005, Section 18 of the CNEA extended the offence of littering under Section 87 of the EPA to all open spaces. However, data on prosecutions under Section 87 will not include the specifics of the offence, for example, if the case was being bought for the offence of littering in a watercourse.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for littering offences related to antisocial behaviour, by police force area, England and Wales, 2003 and 2004( 1) 
			   Depositing litter( 2) 
			  Police force area  2003  2004 
			 Avon and Somerset 5 4 
			 Bedfordshire 2 4 
			 Cambridgeshire 5 1 
			 Cheshire 2 4 
			 Cleveland 8 4 
			 Cumbria 32 39 
			 Derbyshire 1 5 
			 Devon and Cornwall 9 25 
			 Dorset 2 — 
			 Durham 4 5 
			 Essex 9 28 
			 Gloucestershire 1 3 
			 Greater Manchester 17 129 
			 Hampshire 18 15 
			 Hertfordshire 6 16 
			 Humberside 4 3 
			 Kent 6 12 
			 Lancashire 11 13 
			 Leicestershire 18 20 
			 Lincolnshire 1 2 
			 Merseyside 6 59 
			 Metropolitan police 107 174 
			 Norfolk 5 4 
			 North Yorkshire 5 9 
			 Northamptonshire 2 1 
			 Northumbria 69 90 
			 Nottinghamshire 7 10 
			 South Yorkshire 26 43 
			 Staffordshire 5 10 
			 Suffolk 5 2 
			 Surrey 2 3 
			 Sussex 2 2 
			 Thames Valley 5 1 
			 Warwickshire 2 2 
			 West Mercia 10 14 
			 West Midlands 21 20 
			 West Yorkshire 10 49 
			 Wiltshire 4 1 
			 Dyfed-Powys 5 2 
			 Gwent 26 34 
			 North Wales 3 7 
			 South Wales 63 39 
			 England and Wales 551 908 
			 (1) These data are provided on the principal offence basis.(2) Offence under Environmental Protection Act 1990 S.87 Notes:Offence under Environmental Protection Act 1990 Sec.33(6)Offence under Noise Act 1996 Source: RDS—Office for Criminal Justice Reform 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued in November-December 2004, and provisional data for 2005 for littering by police force area 
			  Police force area  2004 (November and December) ( 1) 2005 
			 Avon and Somerset — 6 
			 Bedfordshire — — 
			 Cambridgeshire 2 3 
			 Cheshire — 8 
			 Cleveland — 2 
			 Cumbria — — 
			 Derbyshire 1 10 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2 24 
			 Dorset — 7 
			 Durham — — 
			 Essex 3 27 
			 Gloucestershire — 2 
			 Greater Manchester 1 18 
			 Hampshire 7 27 
			 Hertfordshire — 10 
			 Humberside 2 6 
			 Kent 1 17 
			 Lancashire 5 61 
			 Leicestershire — 7 
			 Lincolnshire — 8 
			 London, City of — — 
			 Merseyside 3 116 
			 Metropolitan 7 94 
			 Norfolk — — 
			 North Yorkshire — — 
			 Northamptonshire — 11 
			 Northumbria 2 25 
			 Nottinghamshire 3 22 
			 South Yorkshire 3 35 
			 Staffordshire 1 11 
			 Suffolk — 2 
			 Surrey — — 
			 Sussex — 4 
			 Thames Valley 1 16 
			 Warwickshire 1 5 
			 West Mercia — 21 
			 West Midlands — 12 
			 West Yorkshire 3 24 
			 Wiltshire — 3 
			 Dyfed Powys — 3 
			 Gwent — 4 
			 North Wales 3 47 
			 South Wales — 8 
			 England and Wales 51 706 
			 (1) Provisional Source: RDS—Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Cypermethrin

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of cypermethrin;
	(2)  what the reasons are for the delay in banning cypermethrin;
	(3)  when he expects all existing on-farm stocks of cypermethrin to be exhausted;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of not implementing an immediate ban on cypermethrin.

Ben Bradshaw: The environmental fate and effectsof cypermethrin have been known for many years. A comprehensive monograph on the subject has been published by the World Heath Organisation underthe auspices of the International Programme on Chemical Safety: Environmental Heath Criteria 82, Cypermethrin, WHO, Geneva 1989.
	The impact assessments for the cypermethrin sheep dip products were performed in accordance with the legislation pertaining at the time of approval of the marketing authorisations. In order to gain approval of the marketing authorisation the applications would have had to meet the required standards of quality, safety and efficacy. Environmental impact is only one part of the overall risk/benefit balance for an individual product.
	Cypermethrin-based sheep dip products are important for the control of sheep scab, blow fly strike and a number of other ectoparasites, all of which have serious welfare implications for affected animals. Therefore, the suspension was made on a precautionary basis. Before the future of these products can be considered the veterinary medicines directorate needs to receive and assess further information on the environmental risks presented by their use and how these can be managed. The Marketing Authorisation Holders have been asked to provide such information.
	Additionally the VMD and the Environment Agency have commissioned an R and D project on environmental exposure to cypermethrin released to the farmyard and the impact of recently dipped sheep crossing watercourses. The results of this project should be available by the end of the summer and will be included in the assessments.
	The existing stocks of the cypermethrin sheep dip products would have been the remnant of the products made for the 2005 dipping season. Therefore, the likelihood is that these will be used during the 2006 dipping season.
	We have been working with farming groups to produce further information for farmers on the risks of environmental pollution from the use of cypermethrin sheep dips and the need to use the products carefully to avoid any pollution. The VMD, EA and SEPA have produced a public notice that is on their websites and will be made available to farmers through NFUs and agricultural merchants.
	The EA continues to monitor for sheep dip pollution using the same approach that has detected and reported previous incidents. In addition, further investigative monitoring for sheep dip pollution will also be undertaken by the Environment Agency during 2006. This will provide a detailed picture of levels of pollution across England and Wales and highlight any misuse of existing stocks of cypermethrin sheep dip products.

Farming

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding has been allocated to Suffolk in each of the past five years for retraining of farmers.

Barry Gardiner: The principal mechanism for funding the re-training of farmers is the Vocational Training Scheme (VTS), set up as part of the England Rural Development Programme and administered by DEFRA's Rural Development Service. Under this scheme, applications are accepted from either training organisers, or eligible individuals.
	VTS funding has been awarded to projects focussing on general transferable business skills, diversification opportunities, or skills development related to specific farming activities, in order to maximise returns. The information given below shows the money awarded by year to VTS projects sited in the county of Suffolk.
	
		
			   VTS (£) 
			 2001 120,00 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 131,000 
			 2004 19,072 
			 2005 1,013 
			 2006 0 
		
	
	However, a significant amount of VTS funding has been awarded to projects not based in Suffolk, but from which Suffolk's farmers have still benefited. Also, the figures above do not take account of National VTS projects, funded from the National budget, that may have included some Suffolk based beneficiaries.

Flooding

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received about the membership of the West Midlands Regional Flood Defence Committee; and if he will appoint a member who will represent Shropshire only.

Ian Pearson: The Severn Trent Regional Flood Defence Committee, which covers the Midlands Region of the Environment Agency, comprises a Chair and seven members appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; two members appointed by the Environment Agency; and 11 members appointed by county and unitary councils in the area of the Committee.
	I have received no recent representations about membership of the Committee. In making appointments to the Committee my right hon. Friend has regard more to the experience and skills of prospective members than their geographical location. However, one of the DEFRA appointed members does live in Shropshire. Also, we recently advertised a number of DEFRA member vacancies in the Shropshire Star newspaper.
	With regard to council appointees, the Committee's area encompasses 32 local authorities and clearly not all can be represented individually if we are to keep the Committee to a manageable size. We have therefore made provision for membership to be shared between some councils; one seat is shared between Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire.
	The arrangements for sharing of seats was based on advice from the Committee themselves on the best strategic alliances and representation based on population and properties at risk from flooding. Within those groupings, councils will agree between themselves who should provide the Committee member at any one time and clearly we would expect that person to ensure that they properly represent issues of concern to the other councils.

Hydro Electricity

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which organisation undertook the technical assessment of the hydro-electric potential of the River Cam on the Littlecombe site in Dursley; how the decision that hydro-electric power from this source was not a viable proposition was communicated to the Environment Agency; and what the basis was for this conclusion.

Ian Pearson: An agent acting on behalf of the owner of the site undertook the technical assessment.
	The Environment Agency does not know how the decision was taken. They have not received any technical assessment or report relating to this site. Ata meeting to discuss the development proposals, an Environment Agency officer was informed by the agent that the joint planning applicants for this site,St. Modwens Developments Limited and the South West of England Regional Development Agency, will not be proceeding with any hydro-electric power scheme. They did not give a reason for this.

Plastic Bags

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the environmental impact of disposable plastic bags; and what support he is giving to research into bio-degradable alternatives.

Ben Bradshaw: Plastic carrier bags make up 0.3 per cent. of the domestic waste stream and between 0.1 per cent. and 1 per cent. of visible litter. These figures are derived from municipal waste statistics and a visible litter survey conducted by INCPEN in 2004.
	The Environment Agency is currently carrying out a study to consider the environmental impacts of a range of carrier bags (including disposable plastic carrier bags and bio-degradable alternatives) over their entire life-cycle, from raw material extraction through to product manufacture, use and final disposal. The study is due to report by the end of 2006.
	The National Non-Food Crops Centre has also started work on Life Cycle Analysis comparison of plastic, oxodegradable and biodegradable bags, this will be available by March 2007. They have established a Thematic Working Group on Biopolymers which aims to promote and facilitate the expansion of this sector. Biopolymers are derived from renewable sources and can be used in a range of products including bags which helps to develop a sustainable supply chain.

Single Farm Payments

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many single farm payments  (a) are outstanding and  (b) have been made in each English region by the Rural Payments Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: The total number of Single Payment Scheme customers is approximately 120,000. As at30 June an estimated 8,500 claimants have yet to receive a payment. Approximately 460 currently have a claim value of more than 1,000 euro.
	Details of payments made in England up to 30 June 2006, including by constituency and county, will be published in due course.

Single Farm Payments

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have yet to be paid any of their single farm payment; why the Rural Payments Agency computer was shut down between 27 May and 5 June; and for what reasons payments have yet to be made to eligible claimants.

Barry Gardiner: By close of business on 13 June 2006, 107,888 customers had received a full or partial payment. This means approximately 8,500 customers are yet to receive any payment. However, the vast majority of these claims are worth less than €1000.
	The computer system used by the Rural Payments Agency needed to be upgraded. This work was timed over the Bank Holiday weekend to minimise the impact on the business, but work carried on offline to continue processing and validation.
	The reasons why customers have not received their payment yet vary widely between individuals but include customer registration issues, outstanding dual claims and Rural Land Register discrepancies.

Single Farm Payments

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers who have  (a) valid claims,  (b) part paid claims and  (c) queried claims have yet to receive their full single farm payment.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 15 June 2006
	The Rural Payments Agency is responsible for the administration of the Single Payment Scheme. As of4 July 2006 24,723 of an estimated claim population of 116,474 had not received their 2005 scheme payment in full. 16,176 farmers had received a partial payment and are awaiting the balance payment. The vast majority of the remaining 24,723 claims still have queries to resolve.

Veterinary Surgeons

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to encourage recruitment of veterinary surgeons to large animal veterinary practices; and how this is incorporated into the Government's animal health strategy.

Ben Bradshaw: We are working in partnership with the veterinary profession to ensure that we have a sustainable large animal veterinary sector, which is able to play a full and effective part in the implementation of the animal health and welfare strategy, There are a range of challenges facing large animal veterinary practice and many of these are principally for the veterinary profession to address. I therefore welcome the recent Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' (RCVS) symposium "Postcards from the Future", as a very helpful contribution to the ongoing dialogue.
	We are training more veterinary surgeons than ever before and there is evidence that large animal work is still attractive to students. However, there are issues about the retention of newly qualified vets which were identified by research jointly funded by DEFRA and the RCVS. The RCVS' initiatives on professional development phase and practice standards are examples of steps taken by the profession to help ensure that farm animal veterinary work provides a challenging and rewarding career for new graduates.
	We are also working with the profession to better understand the trends within large animal veterinary practice and contributed to the RCVS 2006 Manpower survey. This information will help establish a stronger evidence base which should help keep the profession informed on key issues like recruitment and retention.

Parliamentary Questions

Piara S Khabra: To ask the Leader of the House what the cost to the Government were of administering written questions to Ministers in 2005-06.

Jack Straw: The cost of answering a written question as notified to the House by the former Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Timms) on 22 March 2005,  Official Report, column 47WS, is £134.00.
	The cost to Government of answering the total of 78,152 written questions (ordinary and named day) tabled from the start of the current session until 30 June 2006 is estimated to be £10,472,368. This sum does not include costs of printing and those of the House.

Physical Education

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of children aged five to 16-years-old in the East Riding of Yorkshire take part in at least two hours of high-quality physical education and school sport each week; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Data from the 2004/05 survey of schools in school sport partnerships found that 80 per cent. of five to 16-year-olds in East Riding of Yorkshire took part in at least two hours high quality PE and school sport each week.

School Attendance

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the rate of school attendance was in the East Riding of Yorkshire for 11 to 16 year olds in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Figures for the proportion of half days missed due to absence in maintained mainstream secondary schools in East Riding of Yorkshire local authority are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Percentage of half days missed in maintained mainstream secondary schools( 1)  in East Riding of Yorkshire local authority due to absence( 2, 3) 
			   Percentage 
			   Authorised Absence  Unauthorised Absence 
			 1997-98 7.7 0.9 
			 1998-99 7.3 0.9 
			 1999-00 7.2 0.9 
			 2000-01 7.6 0.8 
			 2001-02 7.16 0.89 
			 2002-03 7.04 0.69 
			 2003-04 6.93 0.67 
			 2004-05 6.48 0.56 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed.(2 )Due to local government reorganisation, regional figures are not available prior to 1998.(3 )Local authority figures are only available to 1 decimal place prior to 20001-02. 
		
	
	Authorised absence is absence with permission from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes instances of absence for whicha satisfactory explanation has been provided (for example illness).
	Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences, such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy.

School Attendance

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the rate of school attendance was in Lancashire for 11 to 16 year olds in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Figures for the proportion of half days missed due to absence in maintained mainstream secondary schools in Lancashire Local Authority are given in the following table
	
		
			  Percentage of half days missed in Maintained Mainstream Secondary Schools( 1)  in Lancashire Local Authority due to absence( 2,3) 
			   Authorised absence  Unauthorised absence 
			 1997-98 7.6 0.8 
			 1998-99 7.8 0.9 
			 1999-2000 7.5 0.8 
			 2000-01 7.9 0.8 
			 2001-02 7.75 0.82 
			 2002-03 7.15 0.82 
			 2003-04 7.25 0.88 
			 2004-05 6.94 0.93 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed.  (2) Due to local government reorganisation, regional figures are not available prior to 1998. (3 )Local authority figures are only available to 1 decimal place prior to 20001-02. 
		
	
	Authorised absence is absence with permission from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes instances of absence for which a satisfactory explanation has been provided (for example illness).
	Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences, such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy.

School Closures

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools have closed in (i) rural and (ii) non-rural areas in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Local authorities are responsible for balancing the supply and demand of places in their areas to ensure schools serve the needs of their local communities and provide good quality education in the most cost effective way. As part of this, they need to determine the numbers of schools they need, taking into account the views and aspirations of parents and other stakeholders. Since February 1998 there has been a presumption against the closure of rural schools. Although this does not mean that no rural school will ever close, the case for closure needs to be strong and clearly in the best interests of education provision in the area.
	The numbers of primary and secondary schools that have closed in rural and urban areas each year since 1997 are listed in the following table:
	
		
			   Urban  Rural( 1) 
			   Primary  Secondary  Primary  Secondary 
			 1997 125 11 6 0 
			 1998 115 11 5 0 
			 1999 182 35 2 0 
			 2000 99 7 2 0 
			 2001 188 19 3 0 
			 2002 189 18 5 0 
			 2003 201 17 10 2 
			 2004 205 31 7 2 
			 2005 227 15 8 0 
			 2006(2) 224 21 6 0 
			 (1) The rural figures exclude amalgamations where two schools have been replaced by one new school on the same site.(2) The 2006 figures include schools that have been approved for closure during the current calendar year.

Secondary School Pupils

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school age children normally resident in the west Lancashire district council area are being educated outside the local education authority area.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of pupils( 1 ) residing within West Lancashire Local Authority District  Number of pupils( 1)  residing within West Lancashire Local Authority Attending schools outside of the Local Authority District  Percentage of pupils( 1)  residing within West Lancashire Local Authority Attending schools outside of the Local Authority District 
			 Primary(2) 7,739 437 5.6 
			 Secondary(3) 7,233 981 13.5 
			 Total 14,972 1,418 9.5 
			 (1) Maintained Primary and secondary schools .includes pupils aged 5 to 15 years, solely registered or main registration of dually registered pupils, excludes boarders (2) Includes primary and middle deemed primary (3) Includes secondary and middle deemed secondary  Source: Schools census 2006 provisional

Sure Start

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the performance of the Sure Start programme in west Lancashire in reaching new families and children in the relevant local area.

Beverley Hughes: There are three Sure Start children's centres up and running in west Lancashire offering services to 1,037 children under five and their families including 217 childcare places. We do not currently collect data on the number of families and children accessing children's centre services.
	One of the Sure Start Children's centres in the west Lancashire constituency was based on the Tanhouse and Digmoor Sure Start Local Programme (SSLP) and data returns provided by the SSLP show the following information. The programme offers services to 520 children under four and their families. Between July 2002 and June 2003 the SSLP submitted monthly data returns reporting significant contact (that is, a home visit or attendance at a centre-based activity) with 200(1) new children. Between July 2003 and December 2004 the SSLP reported significant contact with an additional 75(2) children.
	 Source:
	(1) Sure Start Local Programme data returns July 2002 to June 2003.
	(2) Source: Sure Start Local Programme data returns July 2003 to December 2004. During this period data was collected quarterly and the figure records only new children seen in the months in which returns were submitted.

Unauthorised Absence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of half days were missed due to unauthorised absence in maintained schools in  (a) Yeovil constituency,  (b) Somerset county and  (c) the South West in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence in maintained mainstream schools in  (a) Yeovil constituency,  (b) Somerset local authority and  (c) the South West Government office region in each year since 1997-98 is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage of half days missed in Maintained Mainstream Primary Schools( 1)  due to unauthorised absence( 2, 3) 
			   Percentage 
			   Yeovil constituency  Somerset local authority  South West Government office region 
			 1997-98 0.3 0.2 0.4 
			 1998-99 0.2 0.2 0.4 
			 1999-00 0.2 0.2 0.4 
			 2000-01 0.3 0.3 0.4 
			 2001-02 0.3 0.28 0.34 
			 2002-03 0.3 0.27 0.32 
			 2003-04 0.3 0.26 0.32 
			 2004-05 0.4 0.32 0.33 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage of half days missed in Maintained Mainstream Secondary Schools( 1)  due to unauthorised absence( 2, 3) 
			   Percentage 
			   Yeovil constituency  Somerset local authority  South West Government office region 
			 1997-98 0.3 0.5 0.7 
			 1998-99 0.4 0.5 0.7 
			 1999-00 0.5 0.5 0.8 
			 2000-01 0.6 0.5 0.8 
			 2001-02 0.6 0.63 0.81 
			 2002-03 0.6 0.63 0.81 
			 2003-04 1.0 0.82 0.94 
			 2004-05 1.3 1.01 1.03 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed.(2) Due to local government reorganisation, regional figures are not available prior to 1998.(3 )Local authority and Government Office Region figures are only available to 1 decimal place prior to 2001-02. Constituency level figures are only available to 1 decimal place. 
		
	
	Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences, such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy.

Helicopters

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how long it would take to train a qualified  (a) civilian and  (b) army helicopter pilot to the level where he or she is competent to fly patrols in hostile environments in light commercial helicopters;
	(2)  how long it takes to train  (a) an RAF,  (b) a Royal Navy and  (c) an Army helicopter pilot to full operational status;
	(3)  whether there is scope for training an Army helicopter pilot to full operational status; where he or she is competent to fly patrols in hostile environments in a light commercial helicopter in a shorter period of time than normal in periods of high urgent demand for such pilots.

Tom Watson: Military helicopter pilots undergo different phases of training, which vary in type and duration according to which service and type of aircraft is involved. All military helicopter pilots undergo an initial period of elementary fixed-wing training. This is followed by basic and advanced rotary-wing training at the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury. The final phase of training involves pilots undertaking operational conversion flying at their single-service front-line or training units.
	The average number of weeks taken to train helicopter pilots of each service from start to until they are able to fly operationally, including initial fixed-wing training, is as follows:
	
		
			  Service  Weeks 
			 Royal Navy 87 
			 Army 71 
			 Roy al Air Force 110 
		
	
	Professionally qualified civilian helicopter pilots would need to develop the relevant low-level flying and tactical skills in order to attain the required competence for operational flying in hostile environments. It is estimated that such training would take approximately 20 weeks.
	Army helicopter pilots are always trained to full operational status. They do not operate light commercial helicopters but are trained to fly military light utility helicopters, such as the Lynx, in hostile environments as part of the mandated training programme described. Military helicopter training is not shortened or hastened to meet operational demands. It is vital that each training phase is completed and that the syllabus is fully achieved in order to produce the high standards that military flying demands.

Tour Intervals

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defenceif he will make a statement on progress in his Department's measurement of tour intervals of personnel in the  (a) Royal Navy and  (b) Royal Air Force.

Adam Ingram: Harmony guidelines are measured in two ways: unit harmony, which is expressed in tour intervals, and individual harmony through separated service, which is the length of time individuals spend away from their home base. The former is relatively easy to measure but can mask the actual effect of deployments on individuals. Work is therefore in progress to develop a common and effective system of separated service measurement. Currently, each service has its own procedures for measuring harmony.These take account of the different service regimesfor manning and career management, training requirements and patterns of deployment. The different systems do not allow straightforward comparisons of the impact of separation on people to be made between services.
	A common definition of separated service has now been developed and the service rules for recording have been harmonised. These harmonised rules take effect, for each service in turn, with the roll out of the Joint Personnel Administration system. This is now in operation for the Royal Air Force and, when complete for the Royal Navy (anticipated in November 2006) and Army (anticipated in March 2007), will allow accurate measurement of separated service across the armed forces.

Food (Nutritional Content)

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the voluntary traffic light system for nutritional information on food packaging.

Caroline Flint: Comprehensive consumer research with more than 2,500 participants conducted by the Foods Standards Agency (FSA) has shown that the Government-endorsed approach recommended bythe FSA helps consumers across all populationgroups make healthier choices. The vast majority of consumers (96 per cent.) thought a simplified front of pack nutritional signposting scheme would help them make healthier choices.

Departmental Costs

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what costs arising from setting up of her Department have been allocated to the corporate communications budgets.

Angela Smith: To date the total costs that have been allocated to the corporate communications budget come to £12,000. This has come from existing budgets.

London Olympics

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the 2012 London Olympic park is expected to cost.

Richard Caborn: The Olympic Delivery Authority is currently procuring the delivery partner that willhelp the ODA to deliver the Olympic and legacy construction. One element of the delivery partner's role will be to examine the programme for the Olympic Park and costs associated with it. We expect this assessment to be completed within six to nine months of the appointment.

Incapacity Benefit

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer to Question 80303, what meetings she has held with Ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions to discuss their response to the president of the tribunal's reports on their standards in making incapacity benefit decisions; and if she will make a statement on  (a) resulting initiatives and  (b) the expected levels of tribunal workload over the next two years.

Bridget Prentice: No meetings have been held with Ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions on this subject since responsibility for appeal tribunals transferred to this Department on 1 April 2006. The president of appeal tribunals' sixth report on the standard of decisions made on behalf of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in cases which come before appeal tribunals was published on 6 July 2006,  Official Report, Column 52WS.
	A Joint Steering Committee has been established between the Tribunals Service and Jobcentre Plus,the agency which administers Incapacity Benefit, to provide feedback on cases considered by appeal tribunals and to look for ways to avoid customers having to go through the appeals process.

Legal Profession (Consumer Demands)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what plans she has to ensure the legal profession is more responsive to consumer demands;
	(2)  what progress she has made in increasing consumer choice in legal services.

Bridget Prentice: The draft Legal Services Bill,which was published on 24 May 2006, builds on recommendations made by Sir David Clementi following his independent review of the regulatory framework for legal services in England and Wales which was published in December 2004. Both Sir David and the Government have been keen to ensure wide engagement with stakeholders in developing these proposals.
	The proposals in the draft Bill respond to consumer demands. They provide for a new and independent oversight regulator, the Legal Services Board, and a single and independent Office for Legal Complaints. They also provide, through the licensing of alternative business structures, for legal services to be delivered in new ways. The Government are committed to putting the consumer at the heart of these reforms, and there is also a statutory duty on the Legal Services Board to establish a consumer panel to advise it.
	Taken together, these proposals will provide for greater independence in regulation and complaints handling, and increased competition through a more flexible approach to the delivery of legal services. Subject to robust safeguards, lawyers and non-lawyers will be able to work together on an equal footing to deliver legal and other services. External investment will also be possible. These arrangements will provide practitioners with flexibility to respond to market demands by providing consumers with the services they want, when they want them, and in the packages they want them.
	The draft Bill is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee. The Joint Committee is due to report by 25 July. After considering the Committee's report, the Government intend to introduce legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Pensioners Abroad

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with the Czech Republic to ensure the provision of (i) state and(ii) private pensions to UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(2)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with Denmark to ensure the provision of benefits to support UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(3)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with Denmark to ensure the provision of (i) state and (ii) private pensions to UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(4)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with the Czech Republic to ensure the provision of benefits to support UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(5)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with Austria to ensure the provision of (i) state and (ii) private pensions to UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(6)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with Austria to ensure the provision of benefits to support UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(7)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with Belgium to ensure the provision of benefits to support UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(8)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with Belgium to ensure the provision of (i) state and (ii) private pensions to UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(9)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with Cyprus to ensure the provision of benefits to support UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(10)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with Cyprus to ensure the provision of (i) state and (ii) private pensions to UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(11)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with (i) Finland, (ii) Estonia, (iii) France, (iv) Germany, (v) Greece, (vi) Hungary, (vii) Ireland, (viii) Italy, (ix) Latvia, (x) Lithuania, (xi) Luxembourg, (xii) Malta, (xiii) Netherlands, (xiv) Poland, (xv) Portugal, (xvi) Slovakia, (xvii) Slovenia, (xviii) Spain and (xix) Sweden to ensure the provision of (A) (1) state and (2) private pensions and (B) benefits to UK pensioners resident in that country.

James Plaskitt: The social security schemes of allthe member states of the European Union are co-ordinated by EC Regulation 1408/71. It provides for member states to pay their state pensions to pensioners resident in other member states at the same rate as if they were living in the paying state. The UK also makes winter fuel payments to people aged 60 or over living in other member states provided they qualified for a payment before leaving the UK.
	The UK maintains bilateral social security agreements with many EU member states, including Denmark, Austria, Belgium and Cyprus. They were entered into before the application of Regulation 1408/71 and continue to be of relevance to the Crown Dependencies, where they also apply, as their social security schemes are outside the scope of co-ordination under the EC Regulation.
	The EC legislation relating to private pensions is council directive 98/49/EC on safeguarding the supplementary pension rights of employed and self-employed persons moving within the community. The directive ensures that the occupational pension rights of scheme members who move from one EU member state to another are protected. The provisions of the directive have been implemented in the UK through an amendment to the Pensions Act 1995. Section 66A of the Act ensures that occupational pension schemes cannot have different rules for members who have accrued pension rights in the UK but who now reside overseas.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long Mr. Dawute has been employed by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; how long Mr. Dawute has been employed at Lunar House in Croydon; and whether Mr. Dawute continues to carry out his duties.

John Reid: James Dawute was employed bythe Immigration and Nationality Directorate from12 August 2002 to 1 June 2006. He was employed at Lunar House in Croydon from 22 December 2003 to June 2006. Mr. Dawute was dismissed on 1 June 2006.

Parliamentary Questions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to question  (a) 76539 and  (b) 76540, on oxycodone hydrochloride, tabled by the hon. Member for Castle Point for answer on 12 June.

Vernon Coaker: The two questions 76539 and 76540on oxycodone hydrochloride were answered on 6 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1330W.

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has issued on minimum and maximum temperatures for cells in  (a) prisons,  (b) young offender institutions and  (c) juvenile custody in England and Wales for each month of the year.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The National Offender Management Services (NOMS) takes seriously its responsibility to treat prisoners decently. Guidance has been issued to all custodial establishments, including those in the juvenile estate that defines the standard of prisoner accommodation including the capability of the heating system and ventilation requirements in PrisonService order "Certified Prisoner Accommodation" and its supporting Prison Service standard "Accommodation". The Youth Justice Board (YJB) contracts with the Secure Training Centre (STC) providers stipulate specific requirements for ranges of temperatures which must be met. These rangesvary depending on the type and usage of the accommodation. Within the Secure Children's Homes contracts the YJB requires that the provider will ensure that all parts of the premises are adequately ventilated, heated and lit in keeping with the type of usage to which they are put.

Road Safety

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State forthe Home Department what the latest figures are for prosecutions of drivers using mobile phones while driving, broken down by police authority area.

Vernon Coaker: Available information taken from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform for the year 2004 (latest available) is in the following table. 2005 data will be available early in 2007.
	
		
			  Proceedings at magistrates courts for the offence of use of hand held mobile phone while driving( 1)  by police force area, England and Wales 2004 
			  Number of offences 
			  Police force area  Total proceedings 
			 Avon and Somerset 19 
			 Bedfordshire 5 
			 Cambridgeshire 7 
			 Cheshire 2 
			 Cleveland 4 
			 Cumbria 24 
			 Derbyshire 17 
			 Devon and Cornwall 19 
			 Dorset (2)— 
			 Durham 1 
			 Essex 28 
			 Gloucestershire 1 
			 Greater Manchester 73 
			 Hampshire 18 
			 Hertfordshire 6 
			 Humberside 4 
			 Kent (2)— 
			 Lancashire 17 
			 Leicestershire 12 
			 Lincolnshire 9 
			 London, City of 7 
			 Merseyside 22 
			 Metropolitan Police 203 
			 Norfolk 20 
			 Northamptonshire (2)— 
			 Northumbria 32 
			 North Yorkshire 18 
			 Nottinghamshire 8 
			 South Yorkshire 12 
			 Staffordshire 11 
			 Suffolk 7 
			 Surrey 9 
			 Sussex 1 
			 Thames Valley 24 
			 Warwickshire 7 
			 West Mercia 17 
			 West Midlands 61 
			 West Yorkshire 11 
			 Wiltshire 21 
			 Dyfed Powys 13 
			 Gwent (2)— 
			 North Wales 3 
			 South Wales 16 
			   
			 England and Wales 789 
			 (1) Offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Regulations 110 (1), 110 (2) and 110(3). (2) Nil prosecutions.  Source: Court Proceedings Database.

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2006,  Official Report, column 1448W, on Afghanistan, what progress the Afghan/UN/US forum in Kabul is making in respect of each of the five pillars of Security Sector Reform.

Kim Howells: The London conference on Afghanistan launched the Afghanistan Compact. This provides the framework for continued international engagementin Afghanistan over the next five years. The Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) was established by the Compact to co-ordinate the international effort more effectively and to measure progress against the benchmarks and timelines set out in the Compact. Consultative Groups focussing on the eight sectors and five cross-cutting themes covered in the Compact have met and will report to the next JCMB's meeting at the end of July.

Alcoholic Beverages

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the estimated value is of central Government's stock of alcoholic beverages; and how many bottles of  (a) wine,  (b) beer,  (c) spirits and  (d) other alcoholic beverages are held by the Government.

Geoff Hoon: Pursuant to the answer given by myright hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers) on17 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 2529-30W. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for the administration of the Government hospitality wine cellar. The cellar contains a mixture of fine and beverage wines, spirits, liqueurs and beers. The current estimated value is approximately £674,000, based on cost price. The cellar contains just over 36,500 bottles, of which fewer than 300 are spirits and liqueurs. Beer is not held in large quantities and is bought on an ad hoc basis, depending on requirements.

Cuba

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what responseher Department has made to the United States Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba's recent call for a democracy fund for Cuba.

Geoff Hoon: We understand that the US Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba is due to issue its latest report this week.
	UK and EU policy towards Cuba continues to be based on constructive engagement with both the Government and civil society in order to encourage a peaceful transition to pluralist democracy.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment shehas made of the impact on the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan of the continuing conflict in Darfur.

Geoff Hoon: Continued conflict and instabilityin Darfur risks undermining the successful implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Sudan. And failure to implement fully and effectively the CPA risks exacerbating the conflict in Darfur. That is why the UK is doing ail it can to secure both peace in Darfur and rapid implementation of the CPA.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress she has made in persuading the unified Government of Sudan on the need for UN involvement; and what assessment she has made of the prospect for chapter 8 agreement.

Geoff Hoon: Security Council Resolution 1679 called for a UN force for Darfur. The African Union (AU) reaffirmed its support for a UN force at its recent summit in the Gambia, President Bashir continues to oppose this. But, there are signs of different views within his Government on this issue. His own coalition partners, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, have said that they accept a UN force for Darfur, We will continue to urge the Government of Sudan to admit a UN force.
	Chapter 8 of the UN charter provides for the UNto support peacekeeping operations by regional organisations. We believe that, even with substantial UN or other support, the current AU force in Darfur would struggle to meet the substantial new demands placed on it by the Darfur Peace Agreement, and thus that full transition to a UN force needs to occur as soon as possible.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of  (a) the objectives of organisations opposed to the Darfur Peace Agreement and  (b) their treatment of (i) internally displaced peoples and (ii) their views on compensation to those affected by the conflict.

Geoff Hoon: Abdul Wahid's faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) refused to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). They asserted that the DPA provided insufficient representation for Darfuris in Government and insufficient compensation for those affected by the war. They have been rallying opposition to the DPA in the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps.
	We disagree. We believe that the DPA offers a good deal for the people of Darfur, including a say for the rebels in Government at the national and Darfurlevels, and a substantial reconstruction package. If implemented properly, the DPA will provide the basis for the return of the IDPs to their homes. Those who oppose the DPA are delaying the day when such returns can take place.

Uganda

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to President Museveni of Uganda about the international implications of offering amnesty to the leadership of the Lords Resistance Army.

Geoff Hoon: We are following the Government of southern Sudan's current mediation process closely and we welcome all efforts to bring the long-running conflict in northern Uganda to an end. Such efforts should focus on securing a permanent end to the conflict and encouraging Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) foot-soldiers out of the bush to seek amnesty and reintegration into their communities.
	President Museveni has recently said that he will offer an amnesty to the five LRA commanders facing International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants if the talks process is successful The ICC has indicated that the arrest warrants still stand and reminded Uganda of its obligation as a state party to the Rome statute to effect the arrest warrants.
	We endorse this—the UK is a strong supporter, in principle and in practice, of the work of the ICC. We are committed to seeing an end to impunity for the worst human rights abuses and criminal acts. My noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesmanof Tottenham, made this point most recently to the Uganda Foreign Minister when they met in the margins of the African Union summit in Banjul earlier this month.

Cervical Cancer

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the most recent survival rate is for patients in the Province diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Paul Goggins: The survival time for a cancer patient is defined as the time elapsed between diagnosis and death The following table details information on the incidence of cervical cancer (ICD-10 C53) in Northern Ireland for the last period for which data was available.
	
		
			  Relative survival for cervical cancer in Northern Ireland 
			  Diagnosis Period 1996-99  
			 1-Year (95 % CI) 85.9 % (81.4, 89.4) 
			 5-Year (95% CI) 71.9 % (65.9, 77.0) 
			  Source: NI Cancer Registry. 
		
	
	Survival from cervical cancer is highly dependent upon the stage at which the disease is diagnosed. The five-year survival rate for stage I cervical cancer was82 per cent. for patients diagnosed between 1996 and 1999, compared to 2 per cent. for Stage IV disease.
	This information has been provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry and is the most up to date currently available.
	 Notes:
	1. Figures in brackets represent the 95 per cent. confidence interval, which is the range of values within which there is a 95 per cent. probability of finding the true value for the survival rate.
	2. The estimation of patient survival is complicated by the fact that some patients die of causes unrelated to the cancer of interest. To allow for the deaths due to other diseases, survival is expressed as relative survival rate (RSR). Relative survival is the ratio of the observed survival divided by the survival that the patients would have experienced if they had the same probability of dying as the general population having the same age and sex.

Child Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans are in place to manage the process of change between existing health boards and trusts in the Province and the new Health and Social Services Authority in relation to services for children, young people and families.

Paul Goggins: By April 2007 the 18 existing trusts will be formally dissolved and the five new Health and Social Care trusts will become fully operational. The new Health and Social Services Authority will subsequently be established by April 2008. The new authority will have a role in commissioning the full range of services, including those for children, young people and families, either centrally or through the Local Commissioning Groups. The services will be delivered by the five new trusts and, where appropriate, the community and voluntary sector.
	Specific plans are being developed to ensurethat continuity and appropriate governance and accountability arrangements are maintained for services to children and families and, where necessary, strengthened in the move to the new commissioning and service provision arrangements. This work is being taken forward collaboratively by the Department, boards, trusts and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council with input from representatives of service users and carers.

Child Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what expenditure is planned on each of the measures contained in Theme 3 of the Children and Young People Funding Package on improving education provision and support for looked-after children and vulnerable young adults in 2006-07; and on what timetable.

Paul Goggins: The information is as follows;
	 1. Supporting and equipping foster carers to discharge their role effectively as "First Educators" of the children in their care:
	The planned expenditure for this initiative in 2006-07 is£1.04 million. The service will be provided by a voluntary organisation (or consortia), selected in the autumn following a public tender process. Interim arrangements are currently being finalised to deliver the scheme in the meantime.
	 2. Supporting staff in residential care settings to promote improved educational outcomes for the children in their care:
	An outreach worker will be employed in each of the education and library board areas to support staff in residential care settings to promote improved educational outcomes for the children in their care. Expenditure in 2006-07 is expected to be some £200,000.
	A further one-off figure of £0.1 million is available in 2006-07 to refresh computer equipment in children's homes. Expenditure in the Western health and social
	services board has been approved and its trusts are currently purchasing equipment. The other three boards are finalising their costs. The boards have been asked to implement this initiative as quickly as possible.
	 3. Enabling young people who are not yet ready for independence to remain living with their foster carers, and to encourage more young people leaving care to continue in education or training up to age 21:
	The planned expenditure for this initiative in 2006-07 is£0.75 million. At the end of June 2006, this funding has supported 80 young people in foster placements. By March 2007, we expect this initiative will enable a further 70 young people to benefit from this scheme.
	 4. Empowering children and young people in care to engage actively in the process of ensuring the system works in their best interests:
	The planned expenditure for this initiative in 2006-07 is£0.66 million. The service will be provided by a voluntary organisation (or consortia), selected in September following a public tender process. Interim arrangements are being finalised to deliver the scheme in the meantime.

Correspondence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average cost to his Department was of replying to a letter written  (a) by an hon. Member and  (b) by a member of the public in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much of that sum is accounted for by (i) officials' time, (ii) cost of stationery and (iii) postage costs.

Peter Hain: The information requested is notrecorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	However, on an annual basis the Cabinet Office publishes a report to Parliament on the performanceof departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The report for 2005 was published on 30 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 76-78WS.

Lakewood Centre

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will meet a delegation of North Down constituents to discuss the relocation of facilities from the Lakewood Centre in Bangor to Childhaven in Millisle.

Paul Goggins: I will write to the hon. Memberwith the specifics of this case and place a copy in the library.

Paediatric Cardiology

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients are waiting for an initial paediatric cardiology assessment within the Ulster Community and Hospital Trust area, broken down by the length of time which has been waited.

Paul Goggins: The number of patients waiting foran initial outpatient assessment in the paediatric cardiology specialty at the Ulster hospital at 31 May 2006 by length of time waiting is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Timeband  Number waiting 
			 0 to two months 21 
			 Three to five months 12 
			 Six to eight months 10 
			 Nine to 11 months 11 
			 12 to 14 months 7 
			 15 to 17 months 5 
			 18 to 20 months 10 
			 21 to 23 months 9 
			 24 plus months 11 
			 NI total 96 
			  Source: Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust

Waiting Lists/Times

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time was at each hospital emergency department in the Province in each of the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: Information on the time that patients wait to be seen in accident and emergency departments is not collected centrally.
	For those trusts who have electronic data systems in place, data extracts have been requested and work is due to begin on merging these extracts in mid-July. Work is in progress to develop an electronic solution for the trusts that currently have manual systemsand the development of detailed data definitionsis underway, Unvalidated data on accident and emergency waiting times should be available by end September 2006.